I’m surprised nobody has commented on “‘SEC. 125. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.”. I don’t see how it could be much more unconstitutional. It forces any participants to forfeit most of their 1st amendment rights. I know if this gets passed that eventually they will try to make it mandatory, which would be even more unconstitutional. I can’t believe this has already passed through the house, this is crazy. Say hello to the Obama youth (AKA Hitler youth reborn).

To answer your question, no. However I don’t believe I misunderstood anything, but even if I did you don’t need to be so rude about it.

“SEC. 1304, SEC. 125 prohibits “A participant in an approved national service position” from engaging in certain activities."

My interpretation of that is anyone involved in this program cannot do any of the listed things, even on their own free time. Is this incorrect? Whether I’m right or wrong this bill pretty much destroys the first amendment.

To anyone who disagrees I encourage you to do the following in this order:

1) read this article or at least the first sentence of it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

2) read section 125 of H.R.1388 (the bill I’m talking about)

Also, this bill is FREAKING HUGE and it seems like it is being rushed through congress. I think more time should have been taken to read and review it before voting on it.

I wasn’t aware of the Hatch Act of 1939. I read the Wikipedia article you referenced and I must say, it seems to go against free speech in my opinion. “influencing legislation” seems like a very broad term. What exactly would be influencing legislation?

Writing to congress?
Telling people that H.R.1388 is unconstitutional?
Telling people to write to congress?
Protesting a bill?

If that’s the case then that’s very unconstitutional.

Also I don’t think the people in this program would be considered public employees since they are volunteers (don’t you have to earn wages to be considered an employee?).

Good call froboe, I think this needs to be clarified. I don’t see anything explicitly stating it’s only during the actual volunteering so I’m still assuming it’s at all times until I’m proven wrong.

Segoia32, how are you so sure that it’s only during the actual volunteer work? If it’s clearly stated in the bill I’d like to see it. I’ll admit I skimmed through most of the bill so I may have missed it.

I can attest to this: It’s only during your service. Also, you cannot advocate in your capacity as a public employee.

This would be like a social worker using their work ours to lobby the City Council. Can’t do it. But, they could support this legislation on their free time as a private citizen.

Same goes for national service programs. I ran into this problem a lot during my year of AmeriCorps. I would work on community problems, like hunger, and want to push for better food policy. However, I couldn’t do that during the workday in my capacity as an AmeriCorps member. Though, I would do it all the time on the off-hours.

Say goodby to your 1st Ammendment. The “GIVE Act” HB 1388." “to prohibit organizations from attempting to influence legislation; organize or engage in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; and assist, promote, or deter union organizing” of the “Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act”. The “GIVE Act” HB 1388 passed by the House on Friday, will be voted on by the Senate Monday 23rd.

H. Amdt. 49 os HB 1388 is going to make criminals out of the PEACFUL resistance movement. This covers all, even left wing groups who like to protest the war, the environment and etc.

Yes, the main stream media and leftwing groups such as the “Southern Law Poverty Center” and the ADL will lump movements such as this one with Neo-Nazis, White extremists and etc, just like they did with the militia movements back during the ’90s.

The main reason we were given our first and second amendment rights is to criticize and rise against tyranny and corruption in government, and now they are trying to take those rights away. Just another step toward forming a Police State…

this government is taking our rights away. Obama is just a puppet of an organization much bigger than the US government. On parts of this Act our kids would no longer belong to us but to the government and they must do what they say. Incredible!!! The People need to realize what is happening before is too late. We must come together as one and fight for our rights and get this country back from the National Federal Reserve Bank they are basically doing what they please with our country to keep control and finally get in place the ONE WORLD ORDER. Its coming guarantee it. and it will start with The U.S , Mexico, and Canada as one.

Agencies who host members of national service programs cannot use these volunteers the proselytize. The organizations themselves also cannot have proselytizing as their sole purpose.

This would be like hiring a member of AmeriCorps at your church to teach bible studies. It wouldn’t be a proper use of public money.

Also, participating agencies cannot deny community members service based on religious preference. This is the soup after the sermon situation, where you can get a meal, but you have to listen to a sermon first. This is fine to do, but you can’t use government money to do it. It’s a basic instance of separation between church and state.

I am an Historian and as i read this bill i find that it is about the same as what Hitler did with the youth of his day. the result of which was a whole nation following him and not caring what there order was. as a nation we can not allow this to happen again. this is a terrible idea and this bill should fail.

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